5:02pm Thursday 18th June 2009
By Marc Meneaud
A Bradford City fan will be climbing 19,000ft up one of the world’s tallest mountains in memory of those who died in the Valley Parade fire disaster.
Student William Hainsworth, 22, hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford in his solo ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The unit was set up in 1985 following the disaster, which claimed 56 lives, to improve research into treating burns and train plastic surgeons.
Mr Hainsworth and his dad Nigel, who both live in Leicestershire, and his grandfather, 92-year-old Ken Hainsworth of Heaton, Bradford, are all regular visitors to Valley Parade.
He said that the game on the day of the fire disaster, May 11, 1985, was one of the few matches his grandfather had missed.
He said: “He sat in the stand where the fire started, so he would have been there on the day, although he was coming back from holiday and couldn’t get to the match.
“I am looking to raise as much as I can to remember those people who weren’t as lucky.”
From August 23, Mr Hains-worth will spend six days scaling Africa’s tallest mountain. After reaching the summit – 19,330ft above sea level – he will enjoy a three-week tour of Africa, finishing at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
The money he will raise will be split between the burns unit and Bradford Cancer Support.
Mr Hainsworth said: “I have to keep as physically fit as I possibly can, so I will be going to the French Alps for some training in July. I am a keen sports enthusiast but I will be doing this on my own, with a guide. I’m looking forward to it – I like a challenge.”
Dr Nanda Kandamandy, a spokesman for the burns unit, said the money raised would be used for laboratory equipment and the costs of running the research centre, which is run as a charitable organisation.
He said: “We are thankful to him and would like him to raise as much money and awareness as possible. In 20 years there has been a significant amount of money donated by Bradford City, from family members of people involved in the disaster and from fans.
“There are a lot of people out there who remember what happened on that day, it is something that is ingrained in people’s memories.”
Families and friends of those who died at Valley Parade gather in Centenary Square every May 11 to mark the anniversary of the tragedy.
To contact Mr Hainsworth about sponsorship, e-mail will.hainsworth86@googlemail.com or visit justgiving.com/willhainsworth.
e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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